Cassi update

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 6:58 pm

This last weekend Cassi made me proud when she locked up on point from a full run off the check cord for the first time. I was handling the dog so the video isn't the greatest quality but I had to share it.
click here for video

This was only a pigeon and she got in way to close but at least she didn't flush the bird. You can see here how she still wants to creep a bit. But, I think we are ready for the hunt test next weekend. I hope

Birdhunter1 · Post by **Birdhunter1** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 4:13 am

There's only one way to find out, take her hunting.
Good looking dog BTW.

Decoy · Post by **Decoy** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 12:58 pm

one quick sugestion,
approach the dog from the side when possible so that the dog is aware you are walking in. When the handler snuck up behind her and grabbed her tail it looked like it startled her.

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Wed Dec 01, 2004 3:37 pm

Actually that was the trainer I work with and when he bent over two shot gun shells fell out of his pocket which startled her, doh! But, good advice. I think he wanted to make sure she didn't bust in and catch the bird. Why I had put the check cord on her right away.

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 10:20 pm

We had some snow the first day out and a little rain the next day out, but it was a good time and the dogs had a lot of fun. The people of the English Setter Club of Phoenix, AZ and the Desert German Shorthair Pointer Club were all great people and put together a real successful double - double.

I was proud of Cassi she didn't go 4 for 4, but she got 2 passes out of the 4 which was good enough for me. I learned a lot out there and I know what I need to work on now. Her biggest struggle was the point. Anytime those quail started running she would break to catch them. In her mind she did great since she caught 6 birds. One must of flown 100-150yds away which I was surprised to see the quail fly that far she chased it down and made sure she brought back for me. Definately, not the ideal training situation in these junior hunt tests. But, she had a lot of fun and we got 2 legs of her junior hunt title done.

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 1:39 pm

Another aspect of entering to flush from the side is avoiding the dog thinking that another dog is coming from behind to get *their* bird. It works against their nature.

If you don't mind me offering, one thing that has helped me is to train my dog in as close to the hunt test scenario as possible and to make the actual hunt tests as close to my training as possible.

Another thing that has helped me is to train the day immediately after a hunt test. It has seemed to help keep my boy from getting trial wise.

Best regards,

GrouseHunter22 · Post by **GrouseHunter22** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 1:41 am

Great suggestions Greg. I always try to swing wide on a dog that is pointing.

icefire · Post by **icefire** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:48 pm

"Her biggest struggle was the point. Anytime those quail started running she would break to catch them. In her mind she did great since she caught 6 birds."

this is exactly why i don't like running puppy stakes. now that she has learned that she can catch those birds, getting to hold point longer will be a more difficult task. I realize that you are having fun and that is great but I would suggest holding off until she is broke and not allowing her to be in any situation that she can catch more birds. Just a thought.

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:27 pm

I agree with all of you and I know I got my work cut out for me now. But, I know we will get there it's just going to take time and patience.

Two thoughts come to mind. One is to possibly attempt Junior Hunt Test before the dog has any training and just go with it's natural instincts. See how they do and then train based on what they did. At lest this way they are not going against anything you trained in the past just because they can. Problem is you have no check cord on the dog and no control of the situation.

Second, is to completely skip JH since it is 4 legs and it is only one more SH leg or I know many skip straight to MH. Thats fine if YOU are experienced. But, I am new to this so taking her through all the titles is prefered in my case. I am learning just as much as she is.

I am going to start off by getting her back out there on the check cord as soon as I can and let a few quail run and see if I can get her to whoa. Flush a few and not shoot em until she does.

My uncle told me in the old days at least back East they used to rubberband the feet so the birds couldn't run away. I guess they've changed things since then to not allow you to impair the birds in any way other than to dizzy them up.

icefire · Post by **icefire** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:45 pm

i am not saying to not do junior hunter, just don't run a dog in anything until it is well broke on birds. if you don't have the other behaviors trained for higher levels, backing, retrieving ect that you can get away with. I would say a minimum is here, turning on name (these so that the dog will handle for you) and whoa so that you can train stop to flush, steady to wing and shot. at that point you can still run JH if you like without worrying about any set backs. train to a higher level then you want to compete and don't use trials or tests to "see what the dog will do" but to show what you KNOW the dog will do. that way you spend less time and money on entry fees and when you show up you will find that you are competing (if it is a trial) against only maybe 30% of the dogs there. most small trials, more then half of the dogs eliminate themselves. now of course this does not hold true in larger trials or nationals. these are just some thoughts, thats all. the most important thing is that you have fun, just try to not make it harder on yourself or the dog then it has to be. one good summer if the dog is old enough and you should be able to get it pretty steady.

TAK · Post by **TAK** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 10:02 pm

"Second, is to completely skip JH since it is 4 legs and it is only one more SH leg or I know many skip straight to MH. Thats fine if YOU are experienced. But, I am new to this so taking her through all the titles is prefered in my case. I am learning just as much as she is."

Don't take what ICE FIRE said as a cut. He is speaking truthfully about this. If I recall you had said the dog grabbed 6 birds or so. Believe me if you want to make the MH title I would stop the bird catching real fast. You said you are learning just as the dog is, so if this dog turns into a roag you won't have a clue how to fix it. YES it can be fixed.
Believe me 2 years from this date you will be writing "Boy if I knew what I do know back then"

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Tue May 03, 2005 12:51 am

I think I prefer to take her through all the trials since I am new at this too. I know this is an old thread but it shows my progress since November of last year. Here is a clip with Cassi this past weekend taken May 1st, 2005. I still have yet to finish her Junior Hunt title, just been too busy training I guess. I hope to get to a hunt test here the weekend of May 21st to finish her JH.

click her for video (4MB)

You'll notice in the video she pauses once she had scent but she had no idea where the bird was. The bird was right behind her. First time I've seen her get herself in this situation, but sometimes the wind just isn't work out for you. You can see when she realizes where it is, we had a good laugh. Her biggest issues have been chomping on the bird. This was one of her 4th or 5th retrieves where she finally has stopped eating the birds. whew, hope I am through that stage.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Tue May 03, 2005 10:00 pm

congrats!! you've done a great job with her...

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Fri May 27, 2005 5:17 pm

We finally got to go to a hunt test last weekend. She did it!! JH
Now the real fun begins....

Teaching hold has it's advantages.

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:41 pm

Wish me luck, Cassi finally gets to enter her first hunt test at SH level. The test is mid-august and her last test was back in May when she finished JH. I am looking forward to it. She has come a long way and I think she is ready.

Katies Dad · Post by **Katies Dad** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:36 pm

great looking pics and good luck!

Richard *UT* · Post by Richard *UT* » Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:58 pm

I have got to tell you, it is so good to see a Weimaraner hunting. i have always loved them but is is hard to find Weims that hunt. Good for you and good luck, Great looking dog

sdgord · Post by **sdgord** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 4:43 am

Nice stylish girl, our weim is a hunting fool also, she is not as classy on point as your girl.SDGORD

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 6:56 pm

sdgord wrote:Nice stylish girl

Thanks, she's not always that staunch but love it when you can catch a photo when she is.

Thanks for all the Good Lucks, it must of paid off we went 2 for 2. Nothing feels better than to watch your dog perform after all your hard training.

Post by **Greg Jennings** » Tue Aug 16, 2005 7:06 pm

Congrats! Great accomplishment! Now, back to training!

Best,

sdgord · Post by **sdgord** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:15 pm

Great job, nice to see more weims in the field. I had the chance to watch a weim DC finish his MH title . Very nice field work, it wont be long you and Cassi will master out. I wish I could put the retrieve of my weim into my gordons.SDGORD

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Fri Aug 19, 2005 9:39 pm

Thanks, yeah I already have goals beyond MH with RD stuff through WCA. But I have to still get her swimming for all that. My little Vizsla is a swimming fool it's good to see a solid swimmer who enjoys it. I hope to get Cassi there someday.

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:35 pm

I finally got a chance to get Cassi in another hunt test and she completed her SH title. The hardest part of her test was when she turned the corner and three Chukar were up and running away from her. She stopped though and then her bracemate came flying in and they flushed so I shot my blank pistol. Cassi held until I released her and I waited until the judges said I could. That made me proud to see her stop on her own and wait for my command.

Here she is running off with her ribbon....

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 12:16 am

....and not to leave out my older girl who is now 3 years and 9 months; she went two for two, achieving two qualifying scores for master hunter. She has her SH title already so we just need 3 more passes.

Post by **Ayres** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 2:49 am

Nice picture setup. She looks stylish, like she just knows she got two master passes.

dhondtm · Post by **dhondtm** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:03 am

I have not posted on her in a long while, but I had to brag. Cassi finally got her Master Hunter in November of 2007.

AT2 · Post by **AT2** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:46 am

Congrats!

midwestfisherman · Post by **midwestfisherman** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 1:33 pm

Nice job Cassi! Congrats!

Madame · Post by **Madame** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:08 pm

Congratulations!

jtsgsps · Post by **jtsgsps** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:41 pm

Congrats... she is beautiful...

Post by **Kiki's Mom** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:21 pm

WOW.....what fun to be able to follow along and chronicle your achievements with Cassi. Congratulations on reaching your goals with her!! So please do share her full registered name now that she has the MH title behind it....

Wow...I'm thrilled for you and her. She looks to be a lovely girl and you have done very well together. What a dream dog.....

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